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FOOTSTEPS OF OUR FATHERS
Branford Marsalis Quartet
Marsalis
Music/Rounder 11661-33012
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Giggin’
The Freedom Suite
A Love Supreme
Concorde
Branford Marsalis – saxophonesJoey Calderazzo
– pianoEric Revis – bassJeff "Tain"
Watts – Drums.The Freedom Suite was written
by Sonny Rollins, it consists of four parts,
Movement I, Interlude, Movement II, Movement
III.A Love Supreme was written by John Coltrane
and is also in four parts, I Acknowledgement,
II Resolution, III Persuance, IV Psalm.The
first piece Giggin' is a composition of
Ornette Coleman, Branford is on soprano
for this first track and his performance
has elements of the quirkiness and humour
of the composer’s playing. I am not a great
fan of Coleman, but I did enjoy the quartet’s
version of this composition.The Freedom
Suite has Branford on tenor and he takes
the difficult task of re-working someone
else’s masterpiece in his stride. In his
playing you can here elements of all jazz’s
forefathers and not just the black one’s
the sleeve note would have you believe.He
has a superb tone and technique and execution
to deliver exactly what he has in mind.
He is well supported throughout by Eric
Revis on bass and Tai Watts on drums, who
provide backing which is exciting but not
overpowering.To someone like me, who feels
that John Coltrane did more harm than good
to the cause of jazz, listening to a different
version of Love Supreme was something of
a challenge. Whilst I like the way Branford
Marsalis plays much better than John Coltrane,
I just don’t like this piece, its ugly and
it is beyond my comprehension as to why
it is regarded as such an important work.Concorde,
composed by pianist John Lewis is different
again, the ugly sounds have gone and we
are back to music that has a melodic content
and is worthy of the quartet’s talents.
I prefer this piece to any other on the
album, it swings and we can hear one of
the world’s greatest tenor players, playing
his way through and around some interesting
changes. Don Mather
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